I have seven MS SQL Server books and I recommend Ramalho's book as the best jump start guide. The book is cookbook style with many step-by-step screen shots and will get you running faster than any other without having to read endless pages of jargon-filled text even if you didn't know how to spell SQL. Once you create your first database, however, you will need other books, as Ramalho's does lack detail. DO NOT expect one book to be enough to learn SQL from. The best companions I've found are Sam's "Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes" for fast access to instructions on specific tasks, and QUE's "Special Edition Using SQL Server 7.0" for looking up details. CAUTION: if you are relying only on books to create your first SQL 7.0 database, I strongly encourage you to read Using's Chapter 6 on Tables and Datatypes. Proper datatype selection is (I think) the most important aspect of efficient database building. Happy "sequeling".
A very good introductory and reference guide
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
This book is highly recomended to every one interested to get a very quick overview of the product without going deep in the subjects. It is ideal as the first book about the SQL Server 7, because the software is too complicated to be covered in just one book. I think the reader who rated the book as 1 star is an advanced user and bought the wrong book for him. Target for novices, the book is perfect!
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